Current Affairs 15th February 2017

Indian Space Research Organization successfully launched how many satellites in one go - 104

Who has been appointed as a new peacekeeping chief of UN - Jean-Pierre Lacroix

Military Exercise Cobra Gold 2017 begins in - Thailand

Union Government signs agreement with Croatia on – Economic Cooperation

Who have been awarded Laureus Sportsman of the Year award - Usain Bolt and Simone Biles

Current Affairs 15th February 2017 - Details

Indian Space Research Organization successfully launched how many satellites in one go - 104

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched a record 104 satellites and Cartosat-2byheavy duty rocket PSLV C37from Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 9:38 am on 15th February 2017.

Interesting Facts:

• ISRO successfully created a world record of inserting the highest number of satellites into space in a single launch. It broke the previous Russian record of launching 37 satellites in a single launch by directly exceeding the number by 100.

Who has been appointed as a new peacekeeping chief of UN - Jean-Pierre Lacroix

Jean-Pierre Lacroix from France has been appointed as the Under-Secretary-General for the United Nation’s Peacekeeping Operations. He will serve for the period of one year with effective from 1stApril 2017.

Things to know :

• United Nation's new Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who took over from Ban Ki-moon on 1 January 2017 made this announcement.

• Lacroix was a technical advisor to the French Prime Minister from 1993 to 1995.

• He has over 25 years of political and diplomatic experience.

Military Exercise Cobra Gold 2017 begins in - Thailand

Cobra Gold is an annual multilateral military exercise co-sponsored by Thailand and the USA. This year it is started in Thailandon 14 February 2017.

Key Highlights :

• It is the 36th edition of the multinational military exercise and it will continue till 24th February 15, 2017.

• Cobra Gold includes a staff exercise with a senior leader seminar, a field training exercise and humanitarian civic assistance projects.

• It includes 3,600 sailors, soldiers, marinesand airmen of the USA are involved in these activities.

• Thiland hosts this exercise every year and it is considered as the largest military exercise in the Asia-Pacific region.

• It has three distinct activities - Command Post Exercise (CPX), the Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX), and activity related to assist the local Thai population.

Union Government signs agreement with Croatia on – Economic Cooperation

The Union Government signed agreement with the Republic of Croatia on economic cooperation in Zagreb, Croatia on14 February 2017.

Detailed Information –

• Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister and Martina Dalic, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy of the Republic of Croatia, signed this agreement.

• Countires like Croatia can help India to achieve its goal of UN permanent membership and to improve its trade relations with eastern and central European countries.

• The bilateral trade is consistent and constant from last three years between India and Croatia , which is as follows for thefinancial years of 2013-14 (USD 148.86 million), 2014-15 (USD 205.04 million) and 2015-16 (USD 148.44 million) respectively.

Who have been awarded Laureus Sportsman of the Year award - Usain Bolt and Simone Biles

Usain Bolt and Simone Biles have been awarded top awards of ‘Sportsman of the Year’ and ‘Sportswoman of the Year’ at the Laureus World Sports Awards 2017, held in Monaco.

Interesting Highlights :

- This award is known as 'Oscar for Sports' held annually to celebrate the most remarkable sportspersons and their achievements.

- Popular actor Hugh Grant hosted the ceremony.

- The nomination is shortlisted for two categoriesby Specialist Panels – the Action Sportsperson of the Year and the Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.